My nephew Dallas graduated from high school this weekend! So, Mom, Anna, and I made another trek to Houston. I figured Anna would do better in a long, boring graduation ceremony than Wallace. Fortunately, my sister made the smart move of having all four of her girls stay home with Kevin, so I just added one more to his slumber party. :) Anna had a blast with the girls, and Kevin appeared to managed quite well because the house wasn't in shambles when we got back, and all but one of the girls were asleep in the same room! Amazing!

I tried to get some good pics of the graduation festivities, but since it was an indoor, evening graduation, lighting was poor, and I'm not a big fan of flash just yet. But even still I managed to come away with a few decent ones.

Fortunately, we arrived just a little late, and caught all of the graduates lining up outside!  So, I went all paparazzi on Dallas for a few minutes.  :) — Fortunately, we arrived just a little late, and caught all of the graduates lining up outside! So, I went all paparazzi on Dallas for a few minutes. :)

Mom, Sarah, and Nanny with Dallas.  Our family is pretty jam packed with females. — Mom, Sarah, and Nanny with Dallas. Our family is pretty jam packed with females.

So, this is the only one I got of the ceremony, and I'm honestly surprised I was able to rescue it in processing.  I don't have a zoom lens, so this is as close as I could get it with the 85mm.  I don't really know why we all feel the need… — So, this is the only one I got of the ceremony, and I'm honestly surprised I was able to rescue it in processing. I don't have a zoom lens, so this is as close as I could get it with the 85mm. I don't really know why we all feel the need to take a picture of 300 kids in purple suits from the audience and then think we'll actually look at them later...but everyone does it, and I'm not immune. :)

I don't know who made the sign for Dallas, but I thought it as a cute idea.  I haven't been to a graduation in a while, and it's kind of fun to finally watch your family member graduate when you've been sitting there listening to random names f… — I don't know who made the sign for Dallas, but I thought it as a cute idea. I haven't been to a graduation in a while, and it's kind of fun to finally watch your family member graduate when you've been sitting there listening to random names for half an hour. The excitement builds when their row finally stands to walk up there, and then it's all over in a matter of seconds. Kind of like Christmas. "/

Haha!  The sign caught Nanny off guard! — Haha! The sign caught Nanny off guard!

After the graduation we all went to eat. It was a blast getting to catch up with everyone, but this was yet another poorly lit venue, and my skills in that arena are lacking. I did the best I could, and told everyone to "stand really still!"

Jenny's pretty sentimental, and she's let both of her boys wear my Dad's class ring during their graduation ceremonies.

This poor girl was so tired from the late graduation, but all kids are cell phone addicts, so she stayed calm entertained for at least a few minutes with Hunter.

See!  Cell phone addict!  It's not just adults these days.  ;) — See! Cell phone addict! It's not just adults these days. ;)

Nanny was apparently getting tired of the camera.  Look at her peeking...  "is she done yet?" — Nanny was apparently getting tired of the camera. Look at her peeking... "is she done yet?"

My sister Jenny (a.k.a. the graduate's Mom).

Jenny, Dallas, and Rodney trying very hard to be still for me!  :) — Jenny, Dallas, and Rodney trying very hard to be still for me! :)

Jenny, Paula, and Dallas. Dallas was making goofy faces in so many of the pictures I got.

So, poor Bridgett had to share her b-day with Dallas's graduation.  She was a sport about it, and only wore a tiara.  :)  She also doesn't sit very still though, so I had a tough time getting pictures of her with the lighting issues. … — So, poor Bridgett had to share her b-day with Dallas's graduation. She was a sport about it, and only wore a tiara. :) She also doesn't sit very still though, so I had a tough time getting pictures of her with the lighting issues.

But I managed to get this one!  The waiter caught on to the fact that it was her birthday. — But I managed to get this one! The waiter caught on to the fact that it was her birthday.

And she even let Dallas wear the sombrero!  Congratulations Dallas!  We're so proud!  Now you're off to find your way...oh the places you'll go! — And she even let Dallas wear the sombrero! Congratulations Dallas! We're so proud! Now you're off to find your way...oh the places you'll go!